PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mining major BHP on Monday announced that it will establish a A$50-million Vital Resources Fund to help support regional Australian communities in its areas of operation, which are facing the significant challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“BHP stands with the regional communities we operate in. With those communities facing significant challenges, we are stepping up in establishing the Vital Resources Fund, which will provide support in a range of areas such as health services and resilience building during this difficult time,” said BHP CEO Mike Henry.

“We know Covid-19 will require a significant collective response from governments, businesses, communities and individuals across Australia. We are determined to play our part as we work through this challenge together.”

The establishment of the fund follows BHP’s commitment to deliver A$100-million into small, local and Indigenous businesses by accelerating payments and reducing payment terms from 30 to 7 days, and to employ a further 1 500 people to support its Australian operations.

Spending will be focused on the regions surrounding BHP’s Australian operations, including the Bowen basin in Central Queensland, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Roxby Downs and the Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia, and the Pilbara and Goldfields regions in Western Australia.

Over the coming weeks and months, BHP will work with relevant leaders and groups to distribute funding according to local needs and in a manner aligned with government programmes and initiatives.

Henry said that anticipated areas of support include local and regional health networks for critical infrastructure, services and workforces, essential community services that keep regions strong, community mental health and resilience, and social partners and community leaders to support rural and remote Indigenous communities.

Over the longer term, it will work with governments at all levels to increase resources and training available to jobseekers.